CP-9

The chaos in Iceburg's room reached a boiling point as Luffy's frustration erupted into action. Unable to stand the sight of Robin being manipulated, he aimed a powerful kick at Lucci, his leg stretching with a Gum Gum Pistol. But the impact felt like striking an immovable wall. Confusion etched itself onto Luffy's face, but he quickly rebounded with his signature *Gum Gum Gatling*, sending a flurry of punches toward Lucci.

With impeccable precision, Lucci countered, using a devastating Shigan aimed directly at Luffy's neck, sending the Straw Hat captain flying backward.

"What the heck... My attacks aren't working!" Luffy gasped, his voice filled with disbelief as he stumbled to his feet.

The rest of CP-9 stood with eerie calm, watching as their leader toyed with Luffy. Meanwhile, the Straw Hats were visibly on edge, keeping a careful eye on Lucas, wary of what their resident "wild card" might do in retaliation.

"What's going on here? What are you guys doing!? Aren't you shipwrights?" Nami yelled, her voice breaking through the rising tension. She turned her attention to Robin. "And why is Robin with you?! Just what is happening here?"

Robin's gaze didn't falter, her expression unreadable. Luffy, desperate for answers, pushed forward. "Is this really what you want, Robin?"

Her voice was calm but filled with resolve. "... I've told the cook and the doctor to explain to you already. I won't be staying with you anymore. I will sacrifice anything to achieve my goal."

"Even if it means framing your own friends, it seems. What is this goal of yours anyway?" Zoro questioned sharply, his tone dripping with barely suppressed anger.

"Are you crazy?! Do you understand what you're trying to do, Nico Robin?!" Iceburg's voice rang out, filled with fury and disbelief. His shout was cut off as Robin swiftly strangled him with her Devil Fruit powers.

"Quiet. You no longer have the right to speak," she said coldly, silencing him as the room thickened with hostility.

"And here I am, being on my best behavior," Lucas chuckled, his voice cutting through the room like a knife, drawing everyone's attention. He stood there, seemingly unaffected by the tension. "You see, I'm being as patient as I can, but you CP-9 guys are really testing my limits."

Blueno moved in an instant, grabbing Lucas and holding him in a chokehold. But Lucas's smirk didn't falter. He began to phase out of Blueno's grip, his body glowing with mana energy. "You've underestimated me," he said with an unsettling calm as his transformation into Kraab began.

Lucci, watching closely, sneered. "To deduce we are like that really makes you a threat to the World Government, Ghost Pirate Lucas."

Iceburg's eyes widened in shock as the truth unfolded before him. "C… CP-9!?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling.

"Apparently, you guys trained your bodies to surpass human capabilities—what was it… five styles, or something like that?" Lucas muttered casually. "Finger pistol, iron body, that dodge-move-paper-thing, the cleave-whatever-it's-called, the running-on-air… and, oh, nevermind," he said with faux disinterest, earning a sharp glare from Lucci.

"You even know this much about us…" Lucci muttered, visibly bothered by Lucas's knowledge.

Lucas smirked. "What a troublesome foe you are, but our task is complete here. So…" Lucci's voice shifted as he activated his Devil Fruit powers, transforming into his fearsome leopard Zoan form. His muscles bulged, and his eyes gleamed with primal ferocity. "Time," Khalifa said sharply, moving with precision as the room descended into chaos.

Lucas wasted no time. Within an instant, he appeared next to Khalifa, his transformation into Kraab complete. With a swift and calculated back-kick, he sent her crashing out of the building.

The room erupted into multiple battles. Zoro engaged Kaku, their swords clashing with deadly precision. Despite Zoro's superior swordsmanship, Kaku's mastery of Rokushiki gave him the edge. Using Tempest Kick, Kaku launched a wave of slicing air that caught Zoro off guard, forcing him onto the defensive. "Dammit!" Zoro growled, his frustration mounting as he narrowly avoided Kaku's relentless assault.

On the other side, Luffy charged Blueno, his fists blazing with determination. "Gum Gum Pistol!" he shouted, but Blueno dodged effortlessly with Soru. Blueno countered with a brutal iron body, hardening his body as Luffy's punch landed ineffectively. Using his dimensional powers, Blueno struck Luffy with a devastating blow, sending him flying through the building walls and out into the night.

Amidst the chaos, Robin began to retreat. Sanji and Nami both cried out to her, pleading for her to stay. "Robin! Don't go!" Nami yelled, desperation evident in her voice.

"Why are you doing this?!" Sanji shouted, but Robin didn't look back. Her silhouette faded into the shadows as she left them behind.

"So what if you have Devil Fruits," Lucas snarled, his voice carrying an unshaken confidence as he vanished and reappeared behind Lucci. The air grew thick with tension as Lucas's form of Kraab shimmered faintly with raw energy. "I have..." Lucas paused, his voice lowering into his mind. "Over a million different forms."

Without hesitation, Lucas struck, aiming to overwhelm Lucci before he could retaliate. The clash was immediate, an explosion of power as Lucci deflected Lucas's assault using his mastery of Rokushiki techniques. Realizing the strength of Lucas's attacks might delay him further, Lucci narrowed his sharp leopard-like eyes. Rankyaku! The technique sent a devastating slicing wave of air directly upward, severing the top of the building.

Chaos erupted instantly as the floors beneath them burst into flames, consuming the structure in a cascade of destruction. The intensity of the fire ignited panic. Nami screamed loudly as the building groaned and began to collapse under the strain of the explosion.

"Hang on, Nami!" Sanji called, his voice frantic yet adoring. He leapt toward her, arms outstretched as he grabbed her. "Don't worry, Nami-swan! I'll protect you with my life!" he declared dramatically, cradling her safely while dodging falling debris, his concern for her overshadowing all else.

Meanwhile, Lucas moved with precision, forming barriers around everyone with waves of mana, shielding them from the inferno and falling debris. His movements were quick and calculated, the barriers shimmering like transparent domes against the heat of the flames. The building continued to collapse, but Lucas's intervention ensured they remained untouched as the fire consumed the structure.

As the chaos unfolded, CP-9 continued their covert operation elsewhere, moving toward their next target. In a dimly lit space beneath Water 7, Cutty Flam—better known as Franky—was surrounded, his energy drained from his earlier antics with the Straw Hats. He struggled against the restraints they had placed on him, his voice raspy as he growled in protest. "What the hell do you want from me?!"

Lucci stepped forward, his transformation still present, though his tone was calm and calculated. "We're apprehending you for the sake of the World Government. Your knowledge of the blueprints… that's all we need."

"Fat chance I'm giving you anything!" Franky yelled, baring his teeth in defiance. His movements were limited, but his resistance didn't waver.

Khalifa moved to his side, her voice carrying an unsettling confidence. "If you know what's best for yourself, you'd cooperate. Otherwise… well, it won't end pleasantly."

Blueno used his powers to open a dimensional door, creating a pathway for them to exit with their captive. The group moved efficiently, hauling Franky through as he continued to fight back futilely. Franky's voice echoed in the shadows, a mix of rage and desperation.

The CP-9 captured Franky and set off to leave this town.

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